The Georgia legislature has adjourned for the year, and neither of the bills to improve ballot access made any headway. They are HB 133, which cuts the number of signatures for independent candidates and new parties; and SB 112, which eliminates all mandatory ballot access petitions.

However, Georgia has a two-year legislative session, so they might make progress in 2018. Now that the state has lost the lawsuit over the number of signatures for minor party and independent presidential candidates, it seems likely some bill will pass next year.

The Arkansas Libertarian Party has approximately 7,000 signatures on its petition to regain its party status. The state requires 10,000, so the drive is half-done. Thanks to Paul Frankel for this news.

On Wednesday, April 26, the North Carolina Senate unanimously passed SB 656, by Senator Andrew Brock. It lowers the number of signatures from 2% of the last gubernatorial vote to exactly 10,000. It also lowers the statewide independent petition to 5,000. See this story.

Bills have to pass in their house of origin by April 27, in order to remain alive. Thanks to Kevin Hayes for this news.